Discover lessons that balance theory and innovation while adapting to your personal learning journey.

During a guitar lesson, a learner, who lives in Tallahassee, focused on G major scale positions, emphasizing finger placement and legato playing. They also practiced the Ramanza, concentrating on cadence and barre techniques. For continued practice, mental mapping exercises for notes in the second position were assigned, along with a chart on intervals for review.

Patrick worked with Jessica on applying chord theory to the jazz standard "Fly Me to the Moon", focusing on chord voicings, shapes, and transitions between minor 7th and dominant 7th chords. Jessica practiced finger placements and muting techniques to improve chord clarity. Patrick will send the tab charts so Jessica can continue practicing chord progressions and voice leading.

Patrick and a learner from The Woodlands discussed guitar playing techniques, including Travis picking, pentatonic scales, and chordal theory. The individual practiced resolving to the root note in pentatonic scales and explored combining melody and harmony through fingerpicking. For practice this week, they will focus on grinding pentatonic scales and resolving to the root, using the Google Drive sheets provided by Patrick.

Patrick guided a student on guitar techniques, covering classical and flamenco hand positions, rest strokes, and chord exercises. The learner, a student at Florida SouthWestern State College in Cape Coral, practiced scales, arpeggios, and flamenco chords, including E, A minor, and D minor. Patrick will send screenshots and construct folders with exercises for them to practice.

Patrick worked with Nancy on the Malagua, a flamenco piece, focusing on chord transitions, arpeggio patterns, and right-hand techniques specific to flamenco guitar. They analyzed the structure of the piece, practiced chord voicings, and discussed the theory behind chord construction and flamenco musical traditions. Nancy was encouraged to practice the piece, focusing on accuracy and musicality.

An instructor and a student from Florida SouthWestern State College in Cape Coral explored the major blues scale, its harmonic possibilities, and related chord progressions. The student practiced identifying keys and chord functions, while the instructor explained the physics of barre chords and the cultural context of different musical scales. They discussed dominant chords, Mixolydian mode, and chord inversions, focusing on practical application for the student's guitar playing and songwriting.